Romania joined the group of nine countries, including the six founders of the European Union, which are demanding the abrogation of the veto rights of member states in two key areas – foreign policy and security, according to a statement of the Foreign Ministry quoted by G4media.ro. The decision was not preceded by a public debate.

The initiative of the founding states of the EU came after Hungary blocked in recent years several crucial decisions of the European Union related to Russia and Ukraine. The nine states launched on May 4 the plea for a major change in the EU.

In December 2022, Romanian foreign minister Bogdan Aurescu said in an interview with Digi24.ro that "we initially had a position to support unanimity because we always considered that small states should have this leverage at hand if there is a situation in which their interests require it to be able to block a certain decision."

At the same time, Aurescu pointed out that Romania (unlike Austria) has never made use of the right but found other [diplomatic] solutions.

iulian@romania-insider.com

(Photo source: Inquam Photos/Octav Ganea)